An airforce jet drops a bomb near Libyan rebel fighters on the outskirts of the oil-rich town of Ras Lanuf on March 8, 2011.
Anti-Gadhafi fighters drive a vehicle forward as smoke rises following an air strike by pro-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi warplanes that attacked a highway leading to the town of Ras Lanouf, eastern Libya, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Libyan warplanes launched at least three new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition from advancing toward leader Moammar Gadhafi’s stronghold in the capital Tripoli.
Libyan fighters opposing Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi fire their weapons at a Libyan airforce fighter jet flying overhead at the entrance to the oil-rich town of Ras Lanuf on March 8, 2011.
Anti-Gaddafi fighters run after an air strike in the eastern city of Ras Lanuf March 8, 2011. Libyan warplanes struck at rebel forces behind the war’s eastern frontlines on Tuesday, stepping up the government offensive to roll back their early gains in the insurrection against Muammar Gaddafi.
An anti-Gadhafi fighters gives V sign as he stands in a crater at a house that attacked by an air strike by pro-Gadhafi warplanes, in the town of Ras Lanouf, eastern Libya, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Libyan warplanes launched at least three new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition from advancing toward leader Moammar Gadhafi’s stronghold in the capital Tripoli.
Anti-Gaddafi fighters rush towards a house hit by an air strike in the eastern city of Ras Lanuf March 8, 2011. Libyan warplanes launched at least four air strikes on the rebel-held town in the east on Tuesday as the two sides in the insurrection against Muammar Gaddafi faced off across a new front line close to major oil export terminals.
Anti-Gaddafi fighters survey the damage after an airstrike near the eastern city of Ras Lanuf March 8, 2011. Libyan warplanes struck at rebel forces behind the war’s eastern frontlines on Tuesday, stepping up the government offensive to roll back their early gains in the insurrection against Muammar Gaddafi.
Libyan fighters opposing Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi fire their weapons at a Libyan airforce fighter jet flying overhead at the entrance to the oil-rich town of Ras Lanuf on March 8, 2011.
Libyan fighters opposing Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi load ammunition into an anti-aircraft machine-gun as Libyan airforce fighter jets fly overhead at the entrance to the oil-rich town of Ras Lanuf on March 8, 2011.
Anti-Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi fighters prepare anti-aircraft munitions, in the town of Ras Lanouf, eastern Libya, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Libyan warplanes launched at least three new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition from advancing toward leader Moammar Gadhafi’s stronghold in the capital Tripoli.
Anti-Gadhafi fighters takes to the ground following an air strike attack by pro-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi warplanes, at the town of Ras Lanouf, eastern Libya, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Libyan warplanes launched at least three new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition from advancing toward leader Moammar Gadhafi’s stronghold in the capital Tripoli.
An anti-Gadhafi fighters fires his anti-aircraft machine gun against pro-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi warplanes, in the town of Ras Lanouf, eastern Libya, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Libyan warplanes launched at least three new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition from advancing toward leader Moammar Gadhafi’s stronghold in the capital Tripoli.
A Libyan fighters opposing Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi scans the horizon at the entrance to the oil-rich town of Ras Lanuf on March 8, 2011.
A Libyan fighter opposing Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi carries a box of ammunition for anti-aircraft machine-guns at the entrance to the oil-rich town of Ras Lanuf on March 8, 2011.
An anti-Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi rebel fires in the air in the Ras Lanouf town, eastern Libya, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Libyan warplanes launched at least three new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition from advancing toward leader Moammar Gadhafi’s stronghold in the capital Tripoli.
An anti-Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi rebel holds his RPG launcher and drinks water, as he and other rebels block the road at an advance check point between Ras Lanouf and Bin-Jawad towns, eastern Libya, Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Libyan warplanes launched at least three new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition from advancing toward leader Moammar Gadhafi’s stronghold in the capital Tripoli.
A Libyan fighter guards the Mausoleum of Libyan leader of the resistance movement and national hero Omar al Mukhtar on March 8, 2011 in Suluq, some 55 kms south-east of Benghazi, as heavy shelling was heard on the front line of the Libyan rebels’ fight against forces loyal to Moamer Kadhafi, west of the rebel-held oil town of Ras Lanuf.
Serangan Udara Tentera Gaddafi ke atas kubu pejuang terus Meningkat
Gaddafi forces escalate airstrikes
Forces loyal to the embattled Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi have launched more airstrikes on strategically important areas held by revolutionary forces.
Gaddafi warplanes dropped missiles on the residential areas in the eastern port of Ras Lanuf. There are also reports of tank fire and fierce battles between opposition forces and Gaddafi loyalists in the city of Zawiyah.
Government troops, in the mean time, surrounded the southern town of Zintan, but revolutionary forces are still in control.
Two hotels housing reporters have come under bomb attacks in Benghazi.
The liberated east of the country is now settling and moving forward despite fierce battles between revolutionary and pro-regime forces in some cities, a Press TV correspondent reported.
On the international front, Britain and France are stepping up their efforts to put in place a no-fly zone over Libya.
A UN resolution is being drafted to be debated by NATO defense ministers on Thursday.
In the meantime two members of the revolutionary leadership are to speak to the members of the European Parliament on the developments in Libya later on Tuesday.
Moreover, revolutionary council has rejected an offer from Gaddafi and his associates to negotiate an exit strategy.
“We are not negotiating with someone who spilled Libyan blood and continues to do so. Why would we trust the guy today?” Reuters quoted the council’s spokesman Mustafa Gheriani as saying.
The 30-member body was established in the eastern city of Benghazi by revolutionary forces following the liberation of several eastern cities.
The revolutionary council, headed by Libya’s former justice minister Mustafa Abdel Jalil, who was among the first high-profile Libyan figures to defect from the Gaddafi regime following the brutal crackdown on opposition protesters, plans to lead the country to an election.
Catatan
